Outboard propulsion unit housing



March 6, 1956 E. F. MORAN OUTBOARD PROPULSION UNIT HOUSING 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. l, 1954 'lll/Am.

INVENTOR. Edf F M orc/f7 March 6, 1956 E. F, MORAN OUTBOARD PROPULSION UNIT HOUSING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. l, 1954 JNVENToR. Eaf/ E Mora/7 United States Patent O 2,737,143 OUTBOARD PRGPULSION UNIT HUSERG Earl F. Moran, New Orleans, La. Application October 1, 1954, Serial No. 459,745 2 Claims. (Cl. 11S-18) This invention relates to a housing for two outboard motors.

An object of the invention is to provide a single housing for enclosing a pair of outboard motors operable at the same time or independently, thus making it possible, when high speed is desired, to use two motors of modest size to supply speed ordinarily obtainable only from a much larger single motor while, at the same time, making it possible, when high speed is not desired, to save fuel by the use of only one of the modest sized motors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single housing for enclosing a pair of outboard propulsion units operable at the same time or independently, thus making it unnecessary to carry a spare unit or a large number of spare parts to insure against the effects of a break down of a single unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a single housing for enclosing a pair of outboard'propulsion units operable at the same time or independently, which may be attached to a boat and turned pivotally for the purpose of steering the boat in the same manner as the conventional housing of a single propulsion unit.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description considered in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a twin outboard motor housing of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view taken along'the line 22 of Figure 4;

Cligure 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2; an

Figure 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the illus trated device comprises a horizontally disposed casing embodying a pan-shaped bottom section 16 and a hood section 17 detachably covering the bottom section 16. Within the casing 15 are a pair of motors 18, arranged in side by side position, each having a flywheel 19 and motor control mechanism 20. Projecting forwardly from one side of the casing 15 is a conventional type steering handle 21.

Arranged in laterally spaced relation below the casing 15 is a pair of hollow boots 22, each having its upper end dependingly carried by the bottom of the casing 15.

Each of the boots 22 encloses a downwardly extending drive shaft 23 coming from one of the motors 18 and the other boot 22 encloses a similar drive shaft 23 coming from the other motor 18. Each of the boots 22 also affords an exhaust passageway 24 leading from the complemental motor 18 to a complemental exhaust outlet 25 adjacent the lower end of the boot 22. Also extending through each boot 22 is a water pipe 26 carrying water to the cooling system of the complemental motor 18. The lower portion of each boot 22 includes a gear box 27 in which is rotatably mounted a propeller shaft 28, operatively connected to the complemental drive shaft 23, the shaft 28 projecting exteriorly of the boot 22 through a transversely extending opening 30 therein and carrying, exteriorly of the boot, a propeller 29. The gear box 27 is connected to the upper portion of the boot 22 by means of bolts 31 and 32.

Interposed between the boots 22, adjacent the upper ends thereof, is a web 33 having its ends secured to the boots 22. Projecting perpendicularly from the web 33, intermediate the ends thereof, is a nose 34, the nose 34 being on one side of the web 33 and extending clear of the boots 22. The nose 34 consists of spaced upper and 2,737,143 Patented Mar. 6, 1956 ICC lower portions, as shown in Figure 2, having vertically aligned openings therein for the receipt of a pivot pin 35. Exteriorly of the nose 34, is a boat clamp, generally esignated 36, which is connected to the nose 34 for swinging movement about a vertical axis, the pivot pin 35.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, the housing of the present invention may be attached to the stern of a boat in the usual manner by means of the boat clamp 36. When so attached, both propellers 29 will be immersed in the water and may be operated together or singly by the concurrent operation of both motors 18 or the operation of either boat motor 18 singly. Also when connected to the boat, the housing of the present invention may be swung about the pivot pin 35, by means of a handle 21, for the purpose of steering the boat in the customary mode of steering boats equipped with outboard motors. When maximum speed is desired, both motors may be operated simultaneously and the boat will be propelled at a speed which would be obtainable from a single motor only if that motor were of much greater size. When maximum speed is not desired, only one of the motors will be operated, and while the boat will be propelled at a speed normal for the use of a motor of the size involved, the use of fuel will be considerably less than if a larger motor were being used but operated at reduced speed. Thus, the use of twin propulsion units is economical of fuel. Moreover, since normally only one motor will be used, the other motor is in effect a spare already mounted in operative position and in the event of any break down in the motor being used, the other motor may be placed immediately in operation to continue the movement of the boat. The use of a twin propulsion unit also has the advantage of making it unnecessary to carry a large number of spare parts on board, in order to insure a return to port, inasmuch as there is little likelihood of bothmotors breaking down to the point at which they will both require major repairs or replacements.

What is claimed is:

1. In an outboard propulsion unit, a casing having a bottom wall and opposed ends, a pair of outboard motors mounted on -said bottom wall near said opposed ends, drive shafts operatively connected to the motors and depending therefrom below the casing, hollow boots depending from said bottom wall and enclosing the drive shafts, said boots having lower ends, propeller shafts journaled on said lower ends and operatively connected to the drive shafts, a web extending between and secured to said boots, a nose projecting from said web, and a boot clamp pivoted on a vertical axis to said nose.

2. In an outboard propulsion unit, a casing having a bottom wall and opposed ends, a pair of outboard motors mounted on said bottom wall near said opposed ends, drive shafts operatively connected to the motors and depending therefrom below the casing, hollow boots depending from said bottom wall and enclosing the drive shafts, said boots having lower ends, propeller shafts jour naled on said lower ends and operatively connected to the drive shafts, a web extending between and secured to said boots, a nose projecting from said web, and a boot clamp pivoted on a vertical axis to said nose, said casing comprising a pan-shaped lower section, and a hood section mounted upon and enclosing the lower section, said motors having flywheels and said hood section having openings registered with and exposing the flywheels.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 570,613 Smith s Nov. 3, 1896 1,707,897 Bizet Apr. 2, 1929 2,609,782 Kiekhaefer Sept. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 913,287 France May 27, 1946 

